Electric attachment plug



Dec. 1. 1925- R. T.HuG|-u:s

ELECTRIC ATTACHMENT PLUG Filed Aug. 29, 192s 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gjm/vento@ atto 1411,11

R. T. HUGHES ELECTRIC ATTACHMENT PLUG Filed Aug. 29. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AW m Patented Dec. l, 1925.

UNITED STATI-:s

ROLAND THOMAS HUGHES,. F OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC ATTACHMENT PLUG.

Application filed August 29, 1923.

To all whom t may concern.: y

Be it knowny that I, ROLAND THOMAS HUGHES, a. citizen of the United States` residing at Oak Park, in the county of Cook 6 and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Attachment Plugs, of which the following is a specification. 4

This invention relates to an electric attachment plug for connecting supply circuits with electrical apparatus, and the object of my invention is to provide a two part plug the parts of which are detachably and reversibly connected with each other.

Another object of my invention is to provide a two part plug one of the elements of which is adapted to cooperate with two ditierenttypes of electric supply terminals and the other element of which detachably engages the first element and provides means for connecting it electrically to the attachment which it is desired to use.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a two part plug adapted for use with two different types of supply terminals in which both parts of the plug are necessary for its operation with either type of supply terminal.

I attain the above and other objects of the invention, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, by means of the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of the device with the elements in position to cooperate with a supply terminal of the screw in or Edison base type;

Figure 2 4is a vertical section of the device with the parts in position to cooperate with a supply terminal of the push-in type.

Figure 3 is a 'plan view of the element face carrying the push-in connecting means;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a vertical section of a modified form of casing, and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the element provided with the two terminal supply cooperating means.

In the drawln in which similar reference characters indicates similar parts on all the figures thereof, 1 indicates the cup like hood or casing member formed from insulating material, having an aperture 2 Serial No. 659,988.

for the electrical conductors which pass to the lamp or attachment it is desired to connect t0 the source of electrical energy. Embedded in the material of the casing and extending lengthwise thereof are two `flat metallic strips 3 which project beyond the clasing to Vform spring like prongs 4 and 5, t 1e the escription proceeds. These strips may be embedded in the composition during the manufacture of the casing, or grooves may be formed in the casing and the strips inserted therein.

l Screws 6 extend through the casing and into threaded apertures 7 provided at the upper ends of the strips by means of which the conductors are electrically connected to the strips.

The plug member 8 is of generally cylindrical form, and is made of insulating material, as a suitable composition, and is provided with four sockets in its base, two on each face thereof, to -receive the prongs 4, 5 and thus hold the plug and casing elements 1n two different positions with relation to each other accordingly as it is deslred to use the device with two different types of supply terminals.

The plug member 8 is provided at one extremity with a threaded metallic shell 9 adapted to cooperate with a supply terminal of the screw-in or Edison type, the shell having connected thereto a metallic strip 10 which extends lengthwise et' the plug and terminates in the socket 11. The plug member is also provided at the same extremity with the usual contact 12 to which is connected the metallic strip 13 extending lengthwise of the plug and terminating in the socket 14.

Extending from the face of the opposite extremity of the plug member are two contacts 15 and 16, adapted to cooperate with a supply terminal of the push-in type. These contact members are embedded in the material of the plug and extend transversely thereof terminating in the sockets 17 and 18.

From the above description it is apparent that when the two members which form my improved two-part plug are assembled so that the prongs 4 and 5 of the casing 1 are in the sockets 11 and 14, respectively, there is an electrical connection between the conductors held in place by' the screws 6 and the metallic shell 9 and the device is urpose of which will be apparent as ent connections that cooperate with the two types of supply terminals are carried by theone element'of my two-part plug, the are unrelated to each other electrically, an that the connection that is not in operative position is enclosed and protected by the other element of the two-part plug. Another advantage of the arrangement resides in the fact that both elements are necessary for electrically connecting a lamp or other attachment to either type of supply terminal,

thus avoiding loss of one element through breakage or accidental mislaying when not in use.

In Figure I have illustrated a modification of my device wherein there is substituted for the casing 1 a member of suitable insulating material, which is rovided with metallic strips 23 for electrica ly connecting it to the plug 8. This member 21 is rovided with screw threaded metallic soc ets having contacts 31 whereby lamps or other electrical attachments ma be electrically connected through the p ug 8 with the supply terminal. By the provision of such a multiple member 21 for use with the plug 8, it is possible to operate more than one lamp or other electric attachment with either a screw-in or push-in type of terminal supply.

Y While I have illustrated only one form of connection between the elements of my improved device, it is obvious that other forms of connection might be substituted for the spring prong and socket connection without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The member 8-might also be provided with other types of connections for cooperation with other types of supply terminals and many other mlnor changes might be made, and it is therefore to be understood that my invention is not limited except by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I Aclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the class described, a plug member having a plurality of independent coupling means whereby it may be lconnected to unlike supply terminals, a casing adapted to be secured to the exterior of said member, means for securing electrical conductors thereto and means for electrically connecting any one of the coupling means to the conductor securing means.

2. In a device of the class described, a plug member provided with a plurality of electric coupling means, said means being insulated from each other, a casing detachably connected tothe exterior of said plug member, means for connecting conductors to said casing and circuit connections between said last named means and any one of said electric coupling4 means.

3. In a device of the class described, a plug member -provided with a plurality of electric coupling means, said means being insulated from each other, a casing, means Y for securing conductors to said casing, means for detachably connecting said casing to the exterior of said plug member and a single circuit in said casing for electrically connecting said conductor securing means to any one of said electric couplin means.

4. In a device of the class escribed, a' member provided with a plurality of electric coupling means, said means being insulated from one another, a casing, means for detachably connecting said casing to the exterior of said casing, said last named means comprising a single electric circuit in said casin and independent means providing electrlcal connection between sald circuit and each of said electric couplin means.

5. In a device of the class eseribed, a member provided with two electric coupling means, said means beinginsulated from each other, a casing, means whereby said casing may be mounted on the exterior of said member in two positions thereon, one of said coupling means being rendered operative to engage with a supply terminal, and the other rendered inoperative in each position of said casing.

6. In a device of the Aclass described, a plug member provided with a plurality of coupling means insulated from each other, a casing adapted to enclose any one 'of said coupling means, and detachably connected to said plug member, means for connecting conductors tol said casing, and circuit cnnections between said last named means and another of said coupling means.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

ROLAND THOMAS HUGHES. 

